Regional Budget 8/25/07

GateHouse News Service Regional Budget (8/25/07)
Here are the top Illinois stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at http://ghns.ghnewsroom.com
*Please check this Web site in the evening for changes to story lineup, including breaking news.
Contacts:
Regional Editor Jonie Larson, (217) 816-3343, jlarson@gatehousemedia.com
National Editor Jean Hodges, (630) 348-3350, jhodges@gatehousemedia.com

SEX OFFENDER FACT:

In one state, all sex offenders register for life, whether they raped a child or had sex with a teen while a teenager themselves.

Find this and more in the sex offender national project. Look for graphics and web-only features, such as video and an interactive map, on the news service now under special reports.

Running Aug. 25-26.

News

STORM RELATED:

NO POWER: The severe storm that blasted Galesburg on Thursday afternoon, killed a man in rural Victoria, injured several others in the area and left thousands without power. More than 9,800 households in Galesburg and more than 2,000 households in Monmouth still without power without power at 9:30 this morning. GALESBURG/posted/Illinois and Illinois News

WEATHER - WILD RIDE. Two brothers from Creve Coeur were at Snake Den Hollow in the Knox County town of Victoria fishing on the big lake when the storm whipped in. They rode it out in their 15-foot plastic canoe, hiding behind an island in the middle of the big lake. It was the scariest thing these two veteran outdoorsmen had experienced. COON/PEORIA/this evening/Illinois

More storm related as they develop. Watch Web site./Illinois News

Other news

ABUSE OF POWER?: So far this year, Gov. Rod Blagojevich has called 16 special sessions of the legislature. That number is exceeded only by the 17 he called during a similar state budget dispute in 2004.
BREAKOUT: list of special sessions
HEUPEL/CAPITOL BUREAU
Posted/Illinois and Illinois News

BUDGET FOLLOWUP: Despite his advocacy for expanding health care to Illinoisans, Gov. Blagojevich's veto of parts of the state budget yesterday made at least $100 million in cuts to health and human services programs. HEUPEL/CAPITOL BUREAU/this evening/Illinois

CHURCH REBUILDS. Completion is near in the rebuilding of South Pekin Community Fellowship General Baptist Church, which collapsed last month and nearly killed four construction workers. The story in July generated lots of donations and volunteer help, including a group from a St. Louis area church that will be on site today to lend a helping hand. HILYARD/PEORIA/this evening/Illinois News

CHANGED PLEA. Ian McDonald, the disgraced Illini Bluffs teacher who pleaded yesterday apparently pled to the wrong charge. Criminal sexual assault is non probationable and both sides intended for him to plead to a lesser aggravated criminal sexual abuse, thereby allowing probation. In the bustle, they forgot to file the new charge. We'll explain. (brief) KRAVETZ/PEORIA/Illinois News

NO FIVE THINGS TO KNOW FROM CHICAGO – staff writer on vacation.

Business

NICTI NICTI/State budget should mean Amtrak study goes forward. The Northern Illinois Commuter Transportation Initiative is waiting for $275,000 in state matching funds so it can spend $1 million in federal money to keep its study going. Planners hope to select a route for the commuter service by October, choosing between two Metra-style rail options and two "rapid bus" options. THOMAS Bona/ROCKFORD Register Star, 360-420 words, 6 p.m./Illinois News

EDITORIAL: Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan is still a felon, according to two-thirds of a federal appeals court panel that upheld his conviction Tuesday, but he'll remain a free one for at least a little while longer. PEORIA/posted/Illinois Opinion

BRITT CARTOON – Toon on unions of government agencies opposing document access. Specific to Springfield but suitable for other similar disputes./SPRINGFIELD/posted/Illinois Opinions

CAPITOL NOTEBOOK – A look at the week in five quick hits. CAPITOL BUREAUS/moving this evening/Illinois Opinion

NO STATEHOUSE INSIDER – Doug Finke on vacation.

Weekend

FOR SUNDAY:

Illinois football
Embargoed until Sunday
UNDER CONTRUCTION: Excitement surrounding the Illinois football program is as high as its been in five years, with the downtrodden Illini rebuilding their fan base with close losses last season and another decorated recruiting class. But Illinois is still under construction, just like Memorial Stadium. Illinois has problems to fix when the season opens Sept. 1. Illinois football preview. SUPINIE/moving late Friday for Sunday publication/Illinois Sports